User-request-initiated transmission of data files

Abstract

A computer node (100) connected to a network (N) is associated with a collection of data files (F1, . . . , Fm) adapted to be supplied to user terminals (T1, T2) for playback / display therein. The node (100) receives user requests (R) from user terminals (T1, T2) via a request input interface (110). Each request (R) identifies a requested data file (F1) in the collection of data files (F1, . . . , Fm). In response to and based on each such request (R), a control unit (120) derives at least two basic request components (r1, r2, r3). Each basic request component (r1, r2, r3) reflects a respective set of features characterizing specific aspects of a playback / display capacity of the user terminal (T1) from which the user request (R) was originated. Based on the at least two basic request components (r1, r2, r3), the control unit (120) also executes a playback / display capacity algorithm containing at least two consecutive steps. Based on a result of the of the algorithm, the control unit (120) derives a composite playback / display capacity (Cτ-tot) of the user terminal (T1); selects (vID) a version (F1vi) of the requested data file (F1) which version (F1vi) matches the composite playback / display capacity (Cτ-tot) in respect of the particular contents of the file (F1); and causes forwarding of the selected version (F1vi) of the requested data file (F1) to the user terminal (T1).

Description

THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART[0001]The present invention relates generally to distribution of data files to user terminals. More particularly the invention relates to a computer node according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method according to claim 14. The invention also relates to a computer program according to claim 27 and a computer readable medium according to claim 28.[0002]Today, digital content comes in many different forms, for instance as texts, images, sounds and video. Moreover, the public demand for digital media increases rapidly. However, each type of content can occur in a wide range of formats, and normally, due to hardware and / or software limitations, a given user terminal is only capable of displaying / playing a subset of all theoretically possible formats. It is therefore an intricate task to distribute digital content to any larger number of potential recipient terminals.[0003]To tackle this problem, WO 2007 / 066980 discloses a system wherein cu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The object of the present invention is therefore to solve the above problems, and thus offer a user-friendly solution for distributing data files efficiently via a general network, while enabling data supply to a large variety of user terminals.

[0008]Such a computer node is advantageous because it enables provision of a single identifier for each data file irrespective of the number of different formats in which the file is held available, for instance on a web page. Furthermore, a most suitable version of the file is selected automatically (i.e. without requiring a user decision).

[0013]According to still another preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the node includes an exceptions database describing corrections of known device anomalies. The control unit is configured to adjust the features of the playback / display capacity of the user terminal derived from the at least two basic request components based on the contents of the exceptions database, and thus produce an enhanced composite playback / display capacity of the user terminal. This enables compensation for errors, which would have occurred if the contents as such of the basic request components were followed.

[0015]According to a further preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the control unit is configured to generate a data record reflecting the enhanced composite playback / display capacity, and store the data record in association with a terminal reference in a storage means. Then, in response to a received future user request, the control unit is configured to check if the request was originated from a user terminal having a terminal reference that matches a terminal reference already stored in the storage means. If this is found to be the case, the control unit is configured to retrieve an enhanced composite playback / display capacity from a data record being associated with the matching terminal reference. Naturally, this substantially speeds up the process of identifying an appropriate version of the selected data file because all the above-described investigations regarding the terminal's playback / display capacity can thereby be by-passed.

[0017]According to yet another preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, in the event that no version of the requested data file can be found in the collection of data files that matches the composite playback / display capacity of the user terminal (e.g. because the terminal has very limited resources), the control unit is configured to select an alternative data file, which indeed matches the composite playback / display capacity. However, the alternative data file includes contents different from the contents of the requested data file. For example, it the requested data file represents a video sequence, the alternative data file may be a default still image from that sequence. The control unit is likewise configured to cause forwarding of the alternative data file to the user terminal. Thereby, error messages can be avoided, and also relatively dated equipment can be used to access the data files at least to some extent.

Problems solved by technology

However, each type of content can occur in a wide range of formats, and normally, due to hardware and / or software limitations, a given user terminal is only capable of displaying / playing a subset of all theoretically possible formats.

It is therefore an intricate task to distribute digital content to any larger number of potential recipient terminals.

However, offering a suitable set of file formats with regard to the capacities and capabilities of the terminals expected to access the digital content via a resource, such as a web page, is still a non-trivial task.

Moreover, it is challenging to offer such content in a simple and straightforward manner to the typical terminal user.

However, more important, the strategies applied in the known systems risk failing to identify the features of the user terminal which determine the file format that is ideal for the terminal.

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